Should you visit Krabi or Railay Beach?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Railay Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.
Krabi
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi. Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience.
Railay Beach
If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.
Which city is cheaper, Railay Beach or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $43, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $90. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Krabi and Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $54 in Krabi For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Railay Beach's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $108. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $54.
Local Transportation
To get around in Krabi, the average visitor spends $3.91 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The cost of a taxi ride in Railay Beach is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $22 per person, per day, on local transportation in Railay Beach.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
-
Scooter Rental
$8.76
-
Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
$2.92
-
2 Bottles of Gasoline
$2.34
-
Longboat Taxi from Town
$5.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ferry Transfer To/From Koh Phi Phi with Van Transfer:
$14
-
Ferry Transfer Phuket To/From Phi Phi:
$16
-
Private Departure Transfer from Krabi Town to KBV Krabi Airport:
$19
-
Phuket: Speedboat Transfer To/From Ko Phi Phi Don:
$31
-
Superfast Transfer from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi by Arisa Speed Boat:
$37
-
Private Round Trip Transfer between Krabi Town and KBV Krabi Airport:
$39
-
Private Transfer from Krabi City to Krabi (KBV) Airport:
$41
-
Krabi Airport: Private Transfers to/from Hotels in Koh Lanta:
$87
-
Private Transfer from Krabi to Phuket with 2h of Sightseeing:
$91
-
Private Transfer To/From Khao Sok Area:
$141
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Railay Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Railay Beach:
-
Ao Nang: One-Way Railay Beach Longtail Boat Transfer:
$31
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach and Krabi change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Krabi cost around $11 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.40.
In Railay Beach travelers spend around $18 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Krabi $11
Railay Beach $18
Typical Food prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Private 4-Island Sunset Tour with Dinner:
$721
Typical Food prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)
$5.84
-
Pizza
$4.97
Entertainment
In Krabi, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $8.71 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Railay Beach typically cost an average of $20 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser:
$17
-
Ko Lanta: Mangrove Kayaking Half-Day Tour:
$36
-
ATV Adventure:
$39
-
Hong Islands Boat Tour with Panorama Viewpoint:
$41
-
Private Sunset Boat Trip and Night Market Tour:
$44
-
Koh Hong Sunset Tour with Beach BBQ and Night Snorkel:
$52
-
Krabi 4 Island Tour By Speed Boat From Krabi:
$54
-
From Koh Phi Phi: Island Hopping and Snorkeling Tour:
$55
-
Kayaking Tour to Ao Thueak Lagoon with Lunch:
$56
-
Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with Lae Nai Lagoon and Lunch:
$56
-
Half-Day Zip Line Adventure:
$58
-
Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with Nai Nang Village & Lunch:
$62
Typical Entertainment prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
-
Rock Climbing (for Two)
$20
Tours and Activities in Railay Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Railay Beach are as follows:
-
Crystal Clear Kayak Tour in Krabi:
$30
-
Krabi: Hong Islands Full-Day Private Speedboat Charter Tour:
$508
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Krabi spend on average $3.72 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $13 on alcoholic beverages in Railay Beach per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typical Alcohol prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
-
Beer
$2.63
-
Cocktails (for Two)
$8.76
Typical Alcohol prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Railay Beach
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Railay Beach:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Railay Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Railay Beach than you might in Krabi.
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